Ironer



1951 c. E. MORGENSTERN 2,540,749

IRONER Filed April 50, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet l CH4 EL 58 -15: MOEGEA/STfEN 1951 c. E. MORGENSTERN 2,540,749

IRONER Filed April 50, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 6, 1951 c. E. MORGENSTERN 2,540,749

IRONER Filed April 50, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 C'xmmcs f. fi/aecewsraelv Patented Feb. 6, 1951 IRONER Charles E. Morgenstern, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Nineteen Hundred Corporation, a corporation of New York Application April 30, 1948, Serial No. 24,207

6 Claims.

My invention relates to ironing machines and has for its particular object the provision of an improved ironer of the type having a rotating roll, the axis of which may be selectively shifted about an orbital path to engage or disengage a shoe to accomplish ironing action.

In one type of ironer, a roller is supported for rotation about a horizontal axis and drives the clothes to be ironed against a stationary shoe which bears thereagainst. The shoe is usually provided with heating elements to warm the clothing to be ironed or pressed as it passes between the roller and the shoe. In accordance with the present invention, elements are provided to shift the axis of rotation of the roller over an orbital path from a position against the shoe wherein ironing action is accomplished to a position spaced from the shoe to discontinue ironing action. Further, in accordance with the present invention, the elements to shift the axis of rotation of the roller are operable by a simple trip handle located in a conveniently accessible position on the machine and which utilizes the energy of the drive mechanism to shift the axis of rotation of the roller, thereby minimizing the effort required of the operator.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide an improved ironer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved ironer of the type using a rotating roller the axis of rotation of which may be shifted about an orbital path to engage or disengage the cooperating shoe.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved ironer wherein the axis of rotation of the roller is shifted by a simple operation and the energy therefor is derived from an automatic drive mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved ironer wherein a common drive mechanism imparts rotational driving movements to the roller and is selectively operable to shift the axis of the roller over predetermined increments about an orbital path into and out of engagement with the shoe.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved drive mechanism for an ironer.

My invention further resides in features of construction, combination and arrangement whereby inexpensive and reliable elements to shift the axis of rotation of the roller of an ironing machine are provided to achieve a unit of maximum utility.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with par ticularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1, 2 and 3 are front elevational, top plan, and side elevational views, respectively, of an ironer constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view, like Figure '3, but with the cover portion of the mechanism removed to expose mechanical drive elements to view;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the axis V--V, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the axis VI-VI, Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged crosssectional view taken along the axis VII-VII, Figure 4, showing the catch plate in the engaged and disengaged position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the axis VIIIVIII, Figure 7, showing the construction of the catch plate and the associated mechanism;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along the axis IX-IX, Figure 5, and showing the construction of the brake mechanism;

Figure 10 is a view through the axis XX, Figure 6, showing the roll in the engaged and disengaged positions and the orbital path traversed in passing therebetween;

Figures 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views through the axis XIXI, Figure 5, and axis XII-XII, Figure 5, respectively;

Figure 13 is a view along axis XIIIXIII, Figure 4; and

Figure 14 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view through axis XIV-XIV, Figure 3.

Referring now to the views of Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a stand or table S upon which is mounted an ironing machine having a rotatable roll R which engages the shoe B to accomplish clothes ironing action. The roll R is supported for rotation by the housing H.

The control mechanism for the ironer includes the finger tip control 22 which is selectively shiftable to swing the roll R into or out of engagement with the shoe B and the speed selection control 20 which controls the rotational velocity of the roll R. Moreover, a heater control switch 24 is mounted in the top panel 26 of the support 3 S to control the application of heating energy to the shoe B. The switch 28 controls the application of electrical power to the complete mechanism.

The mechanism indicated generally at 30 sustains the shoe B in position to engage the roll R and contains handle operated release elements to swing the shoe B rearwardly out of engagement with the roll R in case of emergency.

The shoe release mechanism 30 includes a support arm 32 (Figure 4) which is received in bracket 33 to. be held in vertical position and which sustains the rotatable arm 34 at its upper end. The far end of the arm 34-is pivotally' attached to the ball arm 36 bythe pivot 38.--The ball arm 36 is received in the ball socket formed by the two opposed socket forming members ML and 42. Studs (not shown) extend from shoe 48 to back cover plates 44 and it which are held thereto by screws, thus clamping the shoe assem bly together.

-The' e'ngagernent between the ball 36a and the ments (not=shown) engageable to biasthe arm" 34 in the counter-clockwise direction as seen in Figurei.- These elements are cooperatively associated withtrigger mechanism (not shown) which releases this pressure upon predetermined movement of the release handle (not shown). thereby permitting thear'm 34 to swing to the position shown in the dotted lines of Figure '4 and thus releasing the pressure exerted between the shoe B and the roll R. The trigger mechanism:may, for exampla'include a spring biased latch 'operable to disengage upon predetermined 7 force to release the biasing elements.

The View of Figure in shows the roller R in the engaging andreleased position relative to the shoe B, the dashed lines indicating the positi oncf the roller R when in the released position. In shifting between these two positionsythe axis of the roll R travels along theorbital path 54 in a manner to be described in further detail hereaftern Torque for driving'the r-oll'R when in'the engaged position is derived from the piniongear ttiwhich mates with the idler gear 58 which, in turn, rides on the inwardly extending gear face 69 of the end cap 62 of the roll R. The

gear 56 is mounted coaxially with the axis of the" orbit '54 and remains in fixed position as the axis of roll R is shifted Gear 58 is'fixedly supported relative to gear 5% and rides free of the gear face fili'when the axis of roll R is shifted about orbit 54.

The driving engagement for the mechanism of 1 the present invention is best seen from the views of Figures 4,5 and 6. The View of Figure 6 is shown in aligned relationship with the view' of Figure 5 to illustrate better the relationship of the elements, although it will be understood that through the mechanism. The driving torque'for the'unit is derived from the motor 66 whichis electrically connected to the switch 28 to rotate when that switch is turned to the on position.

these views are along different cross-sections- The motor 66 is supported from the bracket 68 I (Figure 4) which is in turn supported from the downwardly extending projections 70 which are formed in the casting 72 which defines the houslng H. The shaft M of the motor 66 is supported therefrom by the oil seal bearing 16 (Figure 5) and extends upwardly to the worm gear 18 (Figure 4)} This worm gear meshes with the worm wheel todrive the mechanism.

As is best seen in Figure 5, the worm wheel '85 is press-fitted to sleeve 84% which is supported from shaft 82 for rotations relative thereto. fhe gears 83 and 88 are also press-fitted to sleeve 8 to'r'otate with the gear 35. The gears 86 and rri'eshfwith the gears 9e and 92, respectively,

which ride on'the shaft 94.

The gears 9d and 22 may be selectively engaged to drive the shaft 9 by shifting plunger 9t whlchis shown in elevational View in Figure 5 and which is received in the cylindrical cavity sic of the shaft cc. This plunger -com'prises two enlarged portions Qfiaand 96b which -fit snugly in the-cavity t lc and-which are connected by "a portion $80 of relatively small diameter.

Balls -98-and we ride in suitable circular openings 98a and used in the wall of the shaft 9 2' and are of diameter to be retracted within the shaft M when the portion 960 cf'the'p1unger93'" is'in axial alignment with them. The gears and 92 are-supported from shaft es by the hubs 9i and 93, respectively;

Each-of these hubs contains a plurality of axially extending grooves or notches, e la and-'93a,'which are best seen in the view of Figures.11"and"12. As shown in Figure '12, these grooves receive'the associated-balls 93 oriilfi when'the 'portion 95a the there'withand act to key the opening 98a'or'lflta of theshait' as to theassociated gear Eton-$2 to drive the-shaft 911 in accord with the rotations of'that gear.

Figures" 11 and 12 are cross-sectional views through the axis XI-XI and fiL-XII of Fig-' ure 5, respectively-showing the position assumed by the balls 98* and We in the disengaged and' engaged positions,"respectively. In the'cross' sectional View of Figure 11, the ball Q3 is shown in the .retracted'position relative to the shaft Qtandrests against thenarrow portion 960 "of the plunger 96. Inthis condition' there' isno engagement between the gear as and the'shaft 534, and the latter'rid'es free of motion to the gear 96 by the gear 86.

imparted Inthe'view of Figure 12; the ball are i s-shifted awayfrom the surface of the'shaft'il i by the" enlarged portion @519 or the plunger es and slides into the groove fifiaof thehub 93. 'As'the shaft 9% rotates, therefore, the 'ball'irldacts' as'a key to*engage"theedgeof the-"groovestiia and iilfia and causes the gear 52 to drive 'th'e'shaft 94.

When theplung'er 96 is shifted on'theleftfas seen' in-Figui'e '5, the ball iiiii rides ontheen-f larged portion" 93b of'the plunger 96 and= keys the gear 2 'to's'haft 9 whereas the ball '98 'falls to the retracted position within shaft 9 3 to' permit geared to ride free of the rotati'oiis'ther'ec'f.

TheaXia'l-pesition' of the plunger 95 is ten:

trolled by the speed control knob 2d. As shown in Figure '4, a bushing" Hi2 sustains a sh'aft extending' frorn-knob2ii'to the pinion 164. As" is best seen in' the cross-sectional view of Figure 13 this pinion rides on the rack Hi6 which is" bent to form the arm 1 98'." 'At' its remote'end'. the arm 5% has a portion W811 witha'n openings) receive the plu'nger 96 which is 'fixed fer anal movement in accordance with the shifting movement of the rack I66 by the snap ring H2 and the shoulder II4 on plunger 96. The ring II2 may be seen in elevational view in Figure 4.

From the foregoing it may be seen that as the speed control knob 20 is rotated, the rack I06 is shifted to shift the plunger 96 and cause the gears 93 and 92 selectively to drive the shaft 94. Inasmuch as the ratios between the gears 88 and 92 and between the gears 90 and 86 are of different values, this shifting varies the speed of rotation of the shaft 94 relative to the motor 66 and thereby controls the speed or rotation of the roll R.

As is best seen in Figure 6, the shaft 94 terminates at its remote end in the splined hub portion 941), gear 56 rides on these splines and is held thereon by the snap ring II8 which is received in an appropriate groove in the end portion of the hub 94b of shaft 94. When the roller R is in an engaging position relative to the shoe B, the gear 60 engages the idler gear 58 which is supported in an engaging relationship with the gear 56 by the hub I22a of the shaft I22. This shaft is mounted coaxially with the shaft 94 by sleeve bearings I23. The idler gear 58 further rides on the internal gear face 60 of the cap 62 on the end of the roller R. Thus, as the shaft 94 rotates, the idler gear 58 likewise rotates, and the roller R is driven. The hub I22a of the shaft I 22 is held against rotation by a brake mechanism to be described in further detail hereafter, so that the velocity of the inner periphery of the gear formed on the cap 62 is equal to the peripheral velocity of the gear 56.

The roller R is eccentrically supported from the shaft I22 at its remote end by the bushing I24. This bushing has a bearing surface I24a upon which rides the annular member I26 which is spot-welded or similarly attached to the inner cylindrical portion I28 of the roll R. The inner periphery of member I26 rides on the bearing surface I24a. The roll R is similarly supported at the end adjacent housing H by the bushing I30 which has a bearing surface I3Ila at its outer periphery and which supports the annular member I32. The latter member is spot-welded at its outer periphery to the inner cylindrically shaped portion I28 of the roll R and at its inner periphery rides on the bearing surface I36a.

The bushing I 30 forms a sleeve I34 about shaft I22 which extends within the housing H to define the gear I36. It is this gear that is rotated to shift the axis of the roll R along an orbital path to engage or disengage this roll relative to the shoe B.

The bushings I24 and I30, together with the gear I36, are rotatably supported relative to the shaft I22 by sleeve bearings I24b and I30b and are connected to each other by the sleeve I42.

It will be observed that the bushings I24 and I36 are of circular shape for free rotation in the corresponding annular members I26 and I32. However, these bushings are eccentrically supported from the shaft I 22 as is best seen by the dotted lines of Figure 10 which show the bushing I24 in outline form- Thus, when the hollow shaft I42 is rotated, as by the rotation of the gear I36, the centers of the bushings I24 and I3!) are shifted in an orbital path about the axis of rotation of shaft I22, thereby causing the axis of roll R to shift along the orbital path 54 (Figure 10) The housing H has an inwardly extending web I38 (Figure which defines a hollowed-out por- 6 tion I40 which receives the shaft I22. This shaft is press-fitted to the portion I 40 of the housing H and does not rotate relative thereto, thu holding the bushing I 22a and the gear 56 in fixed position.

The operation of the automatic control mechanism for selectively shifting the axis of the roll R about an orbital path will now be described, As will be evident from Figure 5, the gear I36 meshes with the gear I48 which is splined to the shaft 82 which extends within the sleeve 84. This gear is held axially relative to shaft 82 by the snap ring I56. Also in engagement with the shaft 82 is the brake drum I52 which has hub I52a extending beneath the spring I54. This drum is keyed to shaft 82 by key I53 which is best seen in the view of Figure 9.

The spring I54 coacts with sleeve 84 and the hub I 52a to form a spring clutch for selective driving engagements therebetween. It is made of Wire of rectangular cross-section to have a maximum area of engagement with the bushing I52a and the sleeve 84, and is of sufficient axial length to extend over both the bushing IBM and a portion of the sleeve 84. The spring I54 is further constructed to wind in the released condition to a diameter less than the diameter of sleeve 84 and the bushing I52a, and is mounted on these parts by first unwinding it until it as-- sumes a diameter greater than these parts, slip-- ping the parts into the spring and then releasing the spring to engage them.

When the spring I54 rides free on the sleeve 84 and the hub I52a of the brake drum I52, it frictionally grips the surface of the sleeve and the hub and causes the shaft 82 to be driven from the sleeve 84. This causes rotation of the gear I48 to rotate the gear I36 and thereby shift the axis of the roller R in an orbital path 54 (Figure 10) The spring 554 is held in a normally unwound and inoperative condition by the collar I56 which may be seen in plan view in Figure 8 and side elevational view in Figure 7. As will be evident from these views, this collar has an upstanding ear I58 in which the radial extending end portion I54a of the spring I54 extends. The collar I56 further has a pair of axially extending ears I56a which may be engaged to hold this collar against rotation.

It is the function of the dog I66 selectively to engage the lips I56a of the collar I56 to prevent rotation thereof. To this end, the dog I is mounted for rotation with the shaft I58, which shaft extends outside of the housing H to the control knob 22 (Figure 4). The dog I 86 is made of sheet metal and has a bent-over end portion I66a extending to an engaging position relative to the lip I55a of the collar I56. As indicated by the dotted lines of Figure 7, the dog I653 may be tilted to shift the extension IBIia out of engagement with the lip Ibt'a of the collar I 56, thus permitting rotation that collar and causing the spring I54 to snap tight to drive the hub I 52a from the sleeve 84.

The shaft I68 and the operating knob 22 are normally biased to the position of the solid lines of Figure 7 by the torsion spring I'III (Figure 4). The axially extending end portion of this spring is held by the stationary collar I121 whereas the opposite end thereof is held on the shaft I68 by the screw I14. This spring is coiled to bias the shaft I68 in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure '7 to swing the dog I60 into an engaging position relative to collar I56.

equal to the outer diameter of said sleeve and positioned in abutting relation to one end of said shaft, drive elements interconnecting said sleeve and said roll to rotate said roll in accord with the rotations of said sleeve, a drive to rotate said sleeve including a gear mounted thereon, drive elements interconnecting said shaft and said roll to shift the axis of said roll about a center eccentric from the center of rotation of said roll to swing said roll into and out of engagement with said shoe when said shaft executes predetermined rotation, a friction brake in engagement with said shaft to restrain rotation thereof and oppose shifting of the axis of said roll, a spring clutch encircling said sleeve and said shaft and including a flat helical spring engageable with said brake at one of its ends, a collar freely mounted on said sleeve, an interengaging connection between said spring and said collar and engaging said collar with a side said gear to effect rotation of said collar, and catch elements operable to engage said collar at points spaced 180 apart, spring means constantly urging said catch elements into position to engage said collar, manually operable means for moving said collar against said spring means whereby rotation of said sleeve with respect to said collar unwinds said spring to release the driving engagement between said sleeve and said shaft, said catch elements being selectively operable to release said collar and effect rotation of said shaft over said predetermined rotation.

3. In an ironer of the type wherein a roll is rotated to press clothing against a shoe and is shifted about an orbital path into and out of engagement with said shoe, a shaft, a sleeve on said shaft supported for rotation relative thereto, said shaft having a hub portion of diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said sleeve,

and positioned in abutting relation to one end of said sleeve, drive elements interconnecting said sleeve and said roll to rotate said roll in accord with the rotations of said sleeve, a drive to rotate said sleeve, drive elements interconnecting said shaft and said roll to shift the axis of said roll about a center eccentric from the center of rotation of said roll to swing said roll into and out of engagement with said shoe when said shaft is rotated 180 including a gear on the end of said shaft and another gear driven thereby, a spring clutch encircling-said sleeve and said shaft and including a flat helical spring, a rotatable collar on said sleeve engaged by said spring and having ears extending radially therefrom and spaced 180 apart, a dog having a catch portion and rotatably supported to catch one of said ears and hold said collar from rotation and effect unwinding of said spring, yieldable means urging said dog in position to be engaged by one of said ears, and manually operable means releasing said dog to permit rotation of said collar 180, whereby rotation of said sleeve relative to said collar unwinds said spring to release the driving engagement between said sleeve and said shaft, and said dog may be rotated against the action of said spring and then released to cause engagement of said spring clutch to rotate said shaft over 180 of rotation.

4. In an ironer, a fixedly supported shoe. a roll for engagement with said shoe, a sleeve positioned within said roll, a pair of spaced bushings interposed between said sleeve and said roll, said bushings having said roll journaled thereon and being eccentrically mounted on said sleeve, whereby rotation of said bushings about said sleeve shifts the axis of said roll about an orbital path into and out of engagement with said shoe, a drive mechanism operably associated with one of said bushings, a sleeve connecting said bushings together, said mechanism including a brake to oppose rotations of said bushing to sustain said roll in position, a spring clutch including a flat helical spring, a driven member connected with said spring, a sleeve encircled th reby, a collar on said sleeve, a gear on said sleeve, said collar abutting the face of said gear and being yieldably held in engagement therewith by said spring and having ears extending radially therefrom spaced apart, and a dog operable to engage one of said ears at positions spaced 186 relative to each other to release said collar and cause said spring to drive said drive member over 180 rotation to shift said roll into and out of engagement with said shoe, a drive shaft disposed within said sleeve and extending beyond each end thereof, a gear on the end of said shaft opposite said one bushing, an internal gear on said roll driven from said first mentioned gear to rotate said roll about its axis as said shaft is rotated, and drive elements connected to th opposite end of said shaft to drive said shaft to rotate said roll.

5. In an ironer, a fixedly supported shoe, a roll for engagement with said shoe, a sleeve positioned within said roll, a pair of spaced bushings mounted on said sleeve eccentric of their centers and having said roll .iournaled thereon, one of said bushings having a gear portion to receive driving torque, whereby rotation of said gear portion and bushing shifts the face of said roll about an orbital path into and out of engagement with said shoe, a drive mechanism operably associated with said one bushing, said mechanism including a gear to engage the gear portion of said bushing, a brake coaxial with said gear and connected therewith to oppose rotation of said bushings and to sustain said roll in position and including a drum and hub operatively connected with said gear, a sleeve coaxial with said gear, a spring clutch connecting said sleeve with said hub and including a flat helical spring encircling a portion of said sleeve and said hub, and having interengaging connection with said brake drum at one of its ends, elements to drive said sleeve and spring clutch including a worm gear on said sleeve and a positive drive connection to said worm gear, a collar held in engagement with the face of said worm gear by said helical spring and having ears projecting therefrom in positions spaced 180 relative to each other, a dog positioned to engage one of said lugs and manually movable out of engagement therewith to release said spring clutch to drive said gear portion and bushing over 180 of rotation and shift said roll into and out of engagement with said shoe, a drive shaft disposed within said first mentioned sleeve and extending beyond each end thereof, a gear on the end of said shaft opposite said one bushing, a gear mounted on said first mentioned sleeve eccentrically of the cente thereof for engagement with said last gear, an internal gear on said rol l operable to engage said last gear to rotate said roll about its axis as said shaft is rotated, and drive elements connected to the opposite end of said shaft to drive said shaft to rotate said roll.

6. An ironer comprising an ironing shoe, a power-driven roll movable into engagement with said shoe, means for mounting said roll for rotation about its center and for step-by-step rotation about an axis eccentric of its center into and out of engagement with said shoe including a support ondz-imentionedrsleeve. andamountedz on; said firsta; mentioned sleeve for retationwith respeet-thereto; about coaxial axes eccentric of-their centers,

bearin means journaling sa-idroll-ronsaid-leush- .ings; a slip ortarmwseeuredgzte the overhanging "end of saidsleeve and extending radially therefrom-',;-an idler journaled thereen an internal gear ;with;i n said; rollljand meshed vvith said iidl'enja shaftgjournaled withinsaid firstsleeve and pro- .j-ec-ting fromopposite-ends thereof, a pinion on the; overhanging end; of said; shaft meshing with said idler; a parallel; sleeve, af rnbtor, drivecon- K nection fromisaid -motorgtoj said-parallel sleeve inlcludingzsa worm, gear-ion;saidsparallel sleeve vand v driven by said-motor and changespeed reduction gearing ,eonnected between --said""-r 'aral-lel sleeve and said shaft-:foit-driving said=shaft and said roll atra plurality of speedsgz-mea as for rotating said a.;bushings' about..-.:their =1 eccentric ax es and QCHARLES MORGENSTERN'.

' BEFERENCESCITED V v .flliej followir ig references are of 7 record in the l file: of;this, patent:

" UNIfIEDis rAT s" PATENTS "Number; Name Date 1 22605799 Bush "Oct. 28, 1941 

